Partnerships for the Knowledge-based Economy

The University of Teesside is actively supporting the Government's agenda of further developing links between universities and business and industry. This includes commercialising the University's work in research and innovation, promoting graduate retention in the region, recruiting graduates into small and medium-sized enterprises, and helping develop entrepreneurialism among the student population.

Teesside's new £10m Innovation and Virtual Reality Centre is a powerful symbol of our commitment to partnership in economic redevelopment. It is the result of a collaboration between the University, particularly our School of Science & Technology, the Teesside Innovation Partnership and an alliance of major private sector partners particularly from the manufacturing, communications and media industries. The building provides the location for access to leading edge technologies held by the University. More than 200 public and private sector leaders joined staff and student representatives at the official opening, which took place in December 1998. Hartlepool MP, Peter Mandelson, then Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, was the guest of honour.

The highlight of the opening ceremony was the inauguration of the Virtual Reality HemispheriumTM, one of the world's most spectacular arenas for the demonstration of VR. The VR Centre is attracting worldwide interest and is proving to be an invaluable research and development facility. After a high profile appearance at the Tomorrow's World exhibition in Birmingham, the Centre was invited by the DTI to New Delhi, which was the venue for the UK Pavilion entitled 'Best of British Technology' and formed part of the largest engineering fair in Asia in February 1999.

The School of Science & Technology was selected by the Government to be the site of one of its new Regional Food Technology Centres. A collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Centre was opened by the then Food Minister, Jeff Rooker MP, in March 1999. It will serve a region with more than 250 food and drink manufacturers by delivering high level training, research and technology transfer. The University boasts an impressive blend of expertise in food science, chemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, biochemistry, process manufacturing and consumer law - all of which will be invaluable to the project.

Key to the success of the Innovation Centre is the University's new Research & Development Office. Created in 1998, the Office promotes access to the full range of resources and expertise available on campus. Its remit is to support wealth creation and competitiveness by working closely with business, industry and community organisations. It manages the University of Teesside Enterprises (UTEL) which facilitates partnership consultancy work and supports research activities across the University. Working closely with Tees Valley Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and Business Link the Office supports the formation of new companies both externally and with the University's own graduates. The business incubator units for the latter within the Innovation Centre have already been filled. A new Graduate Enterprise in Multimedia course has been established which provides participants with the technological and business development skills to run successful, innovative companies.

Addressing the region's skills needs is an important element of the University's work. Teesside is the lead higher education partner in the Ready to Work Project, which develops undergraduates for readiness to work in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This is a cross-university initiative with Tees Valley TEC and received an award made to education-led partnerships by the Government Office for the North East (GO-NE). In addition, the successful Bridges and Routes Project places graduates in SMEs who have all received subsequent offers of employment.

The European Process Industries Competitiveness Centre (EPICC) is a joint private and public sector partnership, based at the University, which promotes innovation in the process industries in order to improve business competitiveness. A key element of its brief is education and training, and the University offers an MSc in Process Manufacturing Management for people who are keen to achieve state-of-the-art manufacturing management skills. As with many of the University's business initiatives, the Centre has received strong support from local industry and employers.

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